Water-meter box.



J. F. OCONNOR.

WATER METER BOX.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE. N

`JAMES E. ocoNNoE, OE EL RENO, AoKmiiiorfrA, AssIGNoRTo EL RENO FooNnRY&

` MACHINE co., or EL RENO, OKLAHOMA, A CORPORATION ory oKLAHoMA.

j WATER-METER B0X.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee. 2e, 191e.

Application led July 6, 1916. Serial No. 107,749.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMEs F. OCONNOR,

acitizen of the United States, and a resident of El Reno, in the countyof Canadian and State of Oklahoma, have invented a newk and Improvedl/Vater-Meter Box, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to safety covers for water meters or the like andhas particular reference tol a new form of casing for inclosing either awater meter alone or a water meter in connection with an adjacentcut-ofi' valve for the water.

Among the objects of the invention is to improve this type of devices byrendering the same not only simpler' and cheaper in construction, but ofa more reliable nature in practice.

`Among the features of novelty of this improvement is the improved formof locking cover for the casing, the tool for locking the cover servingalso as a lifting handle when the cover is unlocked.

With the foregoing `and other objects in view the invention consists inthe arrangement andcombination of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, and while the inventionis not restricted to the e-xact detailsof construction"disclosed Or suggested herein, still for the purpose ofillustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a verticalsectional view showing the relation of the casing to the meter andvalve, the casing shown being of the combined type; Fig. 2 is a planview with parts of the covers broken away; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2

indicating the key inserted and showing iny dotted lines the position ofthe key after it is turned to unlock the cover; Fig. 4L is a detail infront elevation indicating the form of joint for the main portion of thecasing; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail on a plane at right anglesto Fig. 3; and Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional detail on the line 6-6of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I show a water pipe Phaving a cut-off valve V and also a meter M having an upwardly projecteddial D.

The casing is indicated as a Whole at C,

the body of the casing comprising two main vertical parts 10 and 11,preferably tapered upwardly, and each of these parts being provided withan extension 10 or 11 respectively,` each of the extensions being shownas semi-cylindrical. Each `vertical half of the casing body` is soformed that the main portion and its extension are conn ected by aninwardly proj ecting, vertical rib 12, this form making an exceedinglystiff f and strongjstructure. I provide a central rib 18 lying 1n ahorizontal yplane substantially midway between the top and the bottom ofthe casing. This rib with its extenrsionl in the casing extensionprovides a stiener for this portion of the casing. Cooperating* lugs 14areformed on both the front and the rear sides of the casing,

ythrough which bolts or fasteners 15 are adapted to pass in locking theparts together. I also provide cut-outs 16 to accommodate the pipe.

The upper end of the casing is provided with an inwardly projectinghorizontal flange 17, 17 which serves two functions, first, to stifenthe upper edge of the casing and secondly, as a means to interlock withthe cover elements. j

`Each portion of the `body ofthe casing kis provided with itsown coveradapted to Lbe manipulated independently of the other cover, but ingeneral construction and operation the covers Vare similar incharacter.`

The cover 18 is provided with an Outer downwardly projecting flange 19which lits over the top of the casing all the way around, except wherethe main body of the casing 1s connected to its extension. The inside ofthe cover adjacent its rear edge or that portion remote from the lock isprovided with a pair of claws 2O which project downwardly and outwardlybeneath a pair of lips 21 formed at the ends of the fianges 17. Theseclaws positively prevent the lifting of the cover at that portion. Atthe front portion of the cover is provided a novel form of lock, kthesame comprising a keeper 22, see Fig. 3. Said keeper includes a plate 23and hollow posts 24. Permanent fasteners 25 extend through these postslocking the keeper to the under surface of the cover. The lock bolt 26extends from a hub 27 having a central downwardly projecting pivot 28journaled in a hole in the center `of the plate 23. The hub has anupwardly projecting flange 29 bearing against the under surface of thecover 18, and thereby the lug 28 is heldin its'bearingin the plate 28.The hub, furthermore, is provided with any suitable number or form ofkey sockets 80, the bolts of different covers being differently formedas to these key sockets orl holes, so that no cover can'beinanipi'llated except with its own individual key. rllhe key is shown:at 31 and comprises a loo-p or handle 82 at its upper end and havingprongs at its lower end adapted to pass through a slot 33 fformed in thecover', and into the sockets 80 formed in the hub ofthe lock bolt, theshoulder portion of the key being adapted to lie beneath 'the-cover slotand within the flange A29 ofthe hub, so that when the key is insertedinto its place through the slot 33, it

may be turned approximately ninety degrees so as to throw'the point 26of the bolt out from beneath the flange 17. At this 'time the forkportion of the key will lie substantially transverse to the slot 83 orwill :be interlocked beneath -the cover 18, and therefore the handle 82of the key will constitute a handle for lifting `the cover from itsnorntal position. Vhile this action is taking place, the cover will rollslightly around thelips 21 as a hinge. ln replacing` Athecover to itsnormal position, the claws tion of the cover, as might be attempted torelease the same, will be prevented. The claws 20 so cooperate withthese straight lips as to prevent rotation ofthe cover. I The actionofthe-bolt 2G securin'gthe cover 18 is the same in character as thatdescribed above in detail, but calling for a' different specific type ofkey, so that a separate key is required for each lock.

The covers y18 and 18 are preferably formed with ventilating holes 34 toprevent the accumulation of sweat on theinside of the casings. Moistureaccumulating in a device of thischaracter interferes with vthe readingof the meter. lnorder to lit the twohalves of the casing body togetherproporly 4so that the covers 'and locks vwill operate accurately, lprefer'to employ coperating lugs 35 and notches 36 inthe body parts. lmay also employV dowel pins 35 or the like extending upwardly from theflange 17 into or through holes in the cover 18 to prevent lateralshifting ormovement o-f said cover.

I claim:

Ina meter box of the'character set forth,

the combination of a rigid casingfhaving an inwardly projecting flangeat its top at one side and havinginwardly projecting lips at its otherside, a cover for the casing having outwardly and downwardly projecting`claws cooperating with said lips and having a downwardlyy lprojectingflange embracing the top of thecasing, a movable bolt connected to theunder surface of the cover remote from the claws, :and means projectingthrough the cover to manipulate'the vbolt to cause the bolt to engagewith or Adisengage from said inwardly projecting flange, saidboltturning means comprising a handle for lifting the cover ywhenunlocked.

JAMES r. ocoNNon.4

VG'opies--ot this patent maybe obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

It is hereby eertied that Letters Patent No. 1,210,197, granted December26, 1916, upon the application of James F. OConnor, of El Reno, klahoma,for an im provement in Water-Meter Boxes, were erroneously issued to ElReno Foundry & Machine Co. as sole owner of said invention, Whereas saidLetters Patent shouldv have been issued to the inventor, said OOonnor,and El Reno Foundry d' Machine 0o., jointly, said El Reno Foundry &Machine Co. being assignee of one-third interest only in said invention,as shown by the records of assignments in this oiice; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 6th day of February, A. D. 1917.

I R. F. VHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

[SEAL j

